What It Takes for a Truly Happy Mother's Day

For 364 days out of the year, moms put up with it all, from managing stressful jobs and juggling busy schedules to planning activities and organizing family outings. But a happy Mother’s Day should be a day when loving, nurturing, hardworking moms across the country are showered with the love, attention, and thoughtful gifts for parents.

And nobody knows Mom like her children. Who better to tap into mom’s passions, interests, hobbies, and style to pick out the perfect gift for a happy Mother’s Day? In theory, kids should have Mother’s Day down pat. In practice, not so much. At least that’s what many moms had to say in this recent survey by The Pearl Source. Turns out, many kids don’t know their moms all that well!

Let’s take a look at some Mother’s Day facts and figures. Hopefully, but understanding the norms you can work on creating truly happy Mother’s Day for your family.

FUN FACT: The date for Mother’s Day changes each year—make sure to put it in your diary in advance!

The Mother’s Day Shopping Rush

Mother’s Day raked in $25 billion in spending in 2019. That’s $5 billion more than Valentine’s Day, according to The National Retail Federation! However, it’s far from the $69 billion shelled out on Black Friday weekend last year. This means that in terms of consumer priority, Mother’s Day can be considered an “average” holiday.

Methodology and Audience Breakdown

For this survey, we reached out to a thousand children of all ages in the U.S. to see how well they really knew their moms. Then, we compared their answers with a thousand moms nationwide!

Think The Newlywed game, only with moms and kids. Do the kids really know what a happy Mother’s Day entails?

Survey Section 1: The Kids

Mama knows best. Kids? Not so much.

How Well Do You Know Mom?

We’re lucky our phones double as our calendars, otherwise we might miss Mother’s Day altogether.

• Over 50% of respondents didn’t know when Mother’s Day was this year.
• 90% of our respondents can pat themselves on the back for knowing when their mother’s birthday was
• 10% said they couldn’t remember their own mother’s birthday without looking at a calendar. Ouch!
• Over 35% of our respondents didn’t know their mother’s favorite restaurant.
• Nearly 40% didn’t know her favorite flower, a detail kids might want to have handy given their Mother’s Day plans (more on that later).
• Out of all respondents, 31% didn’t know their mother’s favorite color, either.

Turns Out, Mother’s Day Isn’t for Planners

• Over 60% of respondents said they were planning to purchase their gift the week of Mother’s Day.
• 27% planned to buy a gift just a day or two before Mother’s Day.
• Those planning to get the gift a month or more in advance? Just 6%.

“Mama’s Boys” Ain’t What They Used to Be.

Daughters barely eke out a win out over sons when it comes to knowing their mother best.

• By a hair, a higher percentage of women said they knew when Mother’s Day was, and said they knew their mother’s birthday, favorite color, restaurant, and flower.
• Women were also more likely to buy their Mother’s Day gift ahead of time.
• Nearly 40% of women they’d get their gift a few weeks or more before Mother’s Day, compared to 31% of men.

How Often Do You See Mom?

If mothers want to stay in touch with their children, phones are their best bet. But, when it comes to face-to-face interaction, moms are out of luck.

• A nudge over 50% said they talk to their mother daily, and nearly a quarter talk to their mother weekly.
• Only 12% of our respondents took their mother out for a meal within the last 30 days.
• Nearly 50% of our 1,000 respondents last took their mother out over a year ago.

Mother’s Day Plans

What do kids have in store for mom this year? Basically, flowers… and not much else.

• Over 70% of our respondents said they’re planning to buy a Mother’s Day gift.
• Flowers are the most common gift for Mother’s Day.
• Less than half of the gift-givers said they would take their mothers out for a meal.

Hitched? Mom Is Second Fiddle.

We saw a clear distinction between respondents who were married and unmarried. Unmarried respondents were clearly more committed to moms.

• Respondents who were unmarried were more likely to talk to their mother and take their mother out for dinner more often.
• While the most common gifts didn’t differ much between married and unmarried respondents, a higher percentage of unmarried respondents said they’d get their mother a gift for the holiday.
• Unmarried respondents were also more likely to buy more than one gift.

Here are how the two audiences stacked up.

FUN FACT: Across the world, more phone calls are placed on Mother’s Day than any other time of year!

Survey Section 2: Mom’s Weigh In

So, what do moms really think makes a happy Mother’s Day?

Gifts Only a Mother Could Love

If you thought flowers, candy, and a microwave for the home made for a great Mother’s Day gift, think again. If you really want to put a smile on your mother’s face, we recommend paying close attention to this section!

• Mothers, for the most part, said they really only liked their gifts because they came from their kids.
• Nearly half of all mothers polled stated as much, and 23% outright said they didn’t like their gifts at all (but would never tell their kids how they truly felt).
• Over 40% of moms said they thought their kids bought them a Mother’s Day gift just to check it off the list.
• Nearly 30% fessed up to returning last year’s Mother’s Day gift.
• Ever the sweetest, nearly 90% of moms said they felt guilty about returning those gifts.

What a Mother Wants (and Doesn’t Want)

While it’s the thought that counts, putting in a little extra effort is a nice way to celebrate a happy Mother’s Day.

• When asked about recieving flowers, while they said they both expect and appreciate them, most moms would secretly love something more!
• On the top of the list of gifts for Mother’s Day are jewelry, tech, or a nice massage.
• And when it comes to gifts to avoid, clothes can be tricky (as they are very dependent on size and style), as are home appliances. After all, you don’t want Mom to feel like she’s been given more domestic chores!

Mother’s Day Can Still Be Special

While your mom will be appreciative of whatever you get her, level up your Mother’s Day gifting with this new knowledge in tow. Flowers are a classic (and not to be forgotten!), but consider treating Mom to more than just the basics.

Whether you treat her to a new piece of tech, or indulge in a sentimental piece of jewelry, there are so many ways to make her feel special. Show your mom how much you care, and have a very happy Mother’s Day!